Fire officials from state and national agencies are urging drone users to not fly their unmanned aircraft during active wildfires.

Fire officials from state and national agencies are urging drone users to not fly their unmanned aircraft during active wildfires.

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Updated: 7:53 AM MDT Mar 31, 2016

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WEBVTT E CAUSE ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER MATT HOWERTON LEARNED A DRONE PROVED DANGEROUS TO AIR TANKERS IN THE AREA WHICH IS WHY THERE'S NOW A WARNING FOR DRONE USERS. MATT: AIR TANKERS HIT THE MOON MOUNTAIN FIRE TIME AFTER TIME IN RUIDOSO. BUT WHILE THEY WERE IN THE AIR, SO WAS SOMETHING ELSE -- A DRONE. >> IT POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG ISSUE. HE'S BASICALLY FLYING AN AIRCRAFT THAT COULD IMPEDE ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. MATT: FIRE OFFICIALS SAY A HOMEOWNER WAS FLYING A DRONE WHILE THE TANKERS WERE TRYING TO DOUSE THE FLAMES. THEY SAY THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. MAINLY BECAUSE DURING AN ACTIVE WILDFIRE THE FOREST SERVICE OFTEN PUTS UP A NO FLY ZONE AROUND IT SO TANKERS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER AIRCRAFT. OFFICIALS SAY ADDING A DRONE TO THE MIX MAY THROW OFF A TANKER'S ROUTE OR WORSE CAUSE A CRASH -- CAUSE A CRASH. >> TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IS A DISTRACTION THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH. MATT: AND IF YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED. LISTEN TO OUR SKY 7 PILOT NEAL LAWSON. >> MOST OF THEM ARE SMALL AND VERY HARD TO SEE, EVEN THE LARGER DRONES THAT WEIGH 40 TO 50 POUNDS ARE THAT BIG AROUND . YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE FLYING ALONG AT 200 MILES AN HOUR IN A HEAVY TANKER YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE ONE OF THOSE GUYS UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. MATT: BOTTOM LINE, ALL THE FOREST SERVICE WANTS IS FOR YOU

Officials urge 'no drones' during wildfires

Fire officials from state and national agencies are urging drone users to not fly their unmanned aircraft during active wildfires.